Home......
Thursday 1st September 2005
Well - it's finally arrived. The day I dread most of all - Home time!
We're up at 6.30 and finish off the last minute packing.
Horrible feeling having to go home today.
We take one last look around our lovely villa before packing all our belongings into Jaunty and head off to the Travel City office at Lake Buena Vista to drop off the luggage at the "remote check in".
Even Jaunty seems to sense there is something wrong - nobody speaks the whole way there!
I have to say that this remote check-in is very good. Excellent service this - 15 minutes and were all done by 8.45 with no cases to worry about until we get to Gatwick.
We drive to Celebration and drool over the "picture perfect" houses with their white picket fences and perfectly manicured lawns.
Unfortunately - I left my camera in Jaunty's glove box while we walked around and I now realise that I have no pictures of Celebration at all. (Another reason to come back then!)
When I first heard of Celebration (way before I had ever contemplated a visit to Disney) I must admit to thinking that it was a bit "Twee" and a touch "Sad" that anyone would want to live under such strict controls.
I take it all back!
I want to live here.
It's how life could be if only I had the money!
And what's wrong with people taking a pride in their town? It looks just fabulous and I am so envious of the residents of this magnificent place. If anyone from Celebration is reading this - you have a life that I will aspire to for as long as I live. (Anyone up for a house swap this year?) Heh! Heh!
We stop for a quick walk around the town and take a look at the Celebration Hotel and then head over to DownTown Disney for breakfast at McDonald's.
Myself and Ricky try a "McGriddle" which looked quite nice in the picture but turns out to be Sausage, egg and cheese inside two maple syrup pancakes!
I have to separate the pancakes and eat them after the savoury bits!
Weird! - Sort of sweet & sour breakfast!
Then - after a short stroll around the shops we catch the boat to Port Orleans.
We have never done this before and I thought that it might be a good thing to try on our last day before driving to the airport.
It's a lovely trip to take as you get to relax and see the resorts as you glide past.
Unfortunately the weather takes a turn for the worse and we have to disembark at the French Quarter and get the bus back as they will not operate the boats if there is a risk of lightening.
However - when we come back next time - I will be trying this trip again.
Back at Downtown Disney we stop at the Earl of Sandwich for a bite.
I can't remember which sandwiches we actually had but I do remember commenting that they were very tasty indeed. Hannah and Joyce had a tomato soup which was very good too.
Then a quick stop in the Candy Cauldron for some sickly marshmallows on sticks for Ricky and Hannah!
One final look in Disney Art and then the Bath Shop for some sniffs!
Back to pick up Jaunty from the car park and off to Sanford.
It's quite an easy drive with very little traffic about today.
We drop off Jaunty and say a sad farewell.
Rain is now falling and it almost looks like Jaunty is shedding a tear as the drops trickle down his headlamps! I feel a lump in my throat.
"It's OK Dad" says Hannah "It's just your Adam's Apple!"
We avoid the "Sanford Scrum" by having the priority check in - only to find the flight has been delayed by an hour and a half!
Well - I'm afraid we have not had much luck with the airports at either end of our journey this year. Despite Travel City having a great service at both check-in's - it's been the baggage handling that seems to have been the main problem this year. (The worst was yet to come!)
We board at 19.25 - same seats - 76 & 77 H, J, K - upper deck right at the front - lovely leg room again.
Not a particularly great flight back as the stewards have done a double shift and are really tired and touchy. (Actually - I am too!)
Did I mention that I hate going home?!!!!
The food seems pretty poor in comparison to what we have been eating for the last fourteen days and the in-flight entertainment is having problems too.
Luckily I am able to stretch out and have a snooze for the first time on one of these return journeys. I'm so glad we opted for this upgrade now. The only trouble is - how will we go back to standard economy after this?
Back at Gatwick - another baggage delay as the loading machine breaks down.
We have a 2 hour wait before our luggage appears!
This is awful as we are all pretty tired and depressed as it is!
Then back on the train home - this is not easy as there are no seats available and with all the cases and hand luggage it's very awkward.
Were glad to be back home (in that we have had enough of the travelling) but it's very sad to be back to the daily grind - I have to go back to work tomorrow - not looking forward to that at all!
The cat, dog, parrot, rabbit, hamster, guinea pigs and goldfish are all pleased to see us but it's no compensation for leaving Disney behind.
I just want to turn round and go back again!
This is why it takes me so long to be able to bring myself to write up my trip reports.
I have the notes and I know what I want to say.
We've had one of the best holidays ever - but -
Never mind........ Its done now........ And at last I can look back with affection and see what a fantastic holiday we had.
I'm so glad we were able to bring Joyce and Cyril with us again. I know that I have taken the Mickey out of them something rotten in these reports but it would not have been the same had they not been here with us to enjoy the time we spent together.
I think that you would have to agree - seeing these pictures - you just can't put a price on moments like these.
And it is only fitting that as I have finally gone to all this trouble of writing something so nice about them - that I take one final "pot-shot" and publish the picture that I swore I wouldn't..... Heh Heh!
We really did wear them out didn't we?
Well - we've almost come to the end and I have just one final instalment for you which will be a summary of our trip and a few pointers and observations.
If you have got this far - well done you! - just one more to go.
Keep the faith.......!
Thursday 1st September 2005
Well - it's finally arrived. The day I dread most of all - Home time!
We're up at 6.30 and finish off the last minute packing.
Horrible feeling having to go home today.
We take one last look around our lovely villa before packing all our belongings into Jaunty and head off to the Travel City office at Lake Buena Vista to drop off the luggage at the "remote check in".
Even Jaunty seems to sense there is something wrong - nobody speaks the whole way there!
I have to say that this remote check-in is very good. Excellent service this - 15 minutes and were all done by 8.45 with no cases to worry about until we get to Gatwick.
We drive to Celebration and drool over the "picture perfect" houses with their white picket fences and perfectly manicured lawns.
Unfortunately - I left my camera in Jaunty's glove box while we walked around and I now realise that I have no pictures of Celebration at all. (Another reason to come back then!)
When I first heard of Celebration (way before I had ever contemplated a visit to Disney) I must admit to thinking that it was a bit "Twee" and a touch "Sad" that anyone would want to live under such strict controls.
I take it all back!
I want to live here.
It's how life could be if only I had the money!
And what's wrong with people taking a pride in their town? It looks just fabulous and I am so envious of the residents of this magnificent place. If anyone from Celebration is reading this - you have a life that I will aspire to for as long as I live. (Anyone up for a house swap this year?) Heh! Heh!
We stop for a quick walk around the town and take a look at the Celebration Hotel and then head over to DownTown Disney for breakfast at McDonald's.
Myself and Ricky try a "McGriddle" which looked quite nice in the picture but turns out to be Sausage, egg and cheese inside two maple syrup pancakes!
I have to separate the pancakes and eat them after the savoury bits!
Weird! - Sort of sweet & sour breakfast!
Then - after a short stroll around the shops we catch the boat to Port Orleans.
We have never done this before and I thought that it might be a good thing to try on our last day before driving to the airport.
It's a lovely trip to take as you get to relax and see the resorts as you glide past.
Unfortunately the weather takes a turn for the worse and we have to disembark at the French Quarter and get the bus back as they will not operate the boats if there is a risk of lightening.
However - when we come back next time - I will be trying this trip again.
Back at Downtown Disney we stop at the Earl of Sandwich for a bite.
I can't remember which sandwiches we actually had but I do remember commenting that they were very tasty indeed. Hannah and Joyce had a tomato soup which was very good too.
Then a quick stop in the Candy Cauldron for some sickly marshmallows on sticks for Ricky and Hannah!
One final look in Disney Art and then the Bath Shop for some sniffs!
Back to pick up Jaunty from the car park and off to Sanford.
It's quite an easy drive with very little traffic about today.
We drop off Jaunty and say a sad farewell.
Rain is now falling and it almost looks like Jaunty is shedding a tear as the drops trickle down his headlamps! I feel a lump in my throat.
"It's OK Dad" says Hannah "It's just your Adam's Apple!"
We avoid the "Sanford Scrum" by having the priority check in - only to find the flight has been delayed by an hour and a half!
Well - I'm afraid we have not had much luck with the airports at either end of our journey this year. Despite Travel City having a great service at both check-in's - it's been the baggage handling that seems to have been the main problem this year. (The worst was yet to come!)
We board at 19.25 - same seats - 76 & 77 H, J, K - upper deck right at the front - lovely leg room again.
Not a particularly great flight back as the stewards have done a double shift and are really tired and touchy. (Actually - I am too!)
Did I mention that I hate going home?!!!!
The food seems pretty poor in comparison to what we have been eating for the last fourteen days and the in-flight entertainment is having problems too.
Luckily I am able to stretch out and have a snooze for the first time on one of these return journeys. I'm so glad we opted for this upgrade now. The only trouble is - how will we go back to standard economy after this?
Back at Gatwick - another baggage delay as the loading machine breaks down.
We have a 2 hour wait before our luggage appears!
This is awful as we are all pretty tired and depressed as it is!
Then back on the train home - this is not easy as there are no seats available and with all the cases and hand luggage it's very awkward.
Were glad to be back home (in that we have had enough of the travelling) but it's very sad to be back to the daily grind - I have to go back to work tomorrow - not looking forward to that at all!
The cat, dog, parrot, rabbit, hamster, guinea pigs and goldfish are all pleased to see us but it's no compensation for leaving Disney behind.
I just want to turn round and go back again!
This is why it takes me so long to be able to bring myself to write up my trip reports.
I have the notes and I know what I want to say.
We've had one of the best holidays ever - but -
Never mind........ Its done now........ And at last I can look back with affection and see what a fantastic holiday we had.
I'm so glad we were able to bring Joyce and Cyril with us again. I know that I have taken the Mickey out of them something rotten in these reports but it would not have been the same had they not been here with us to enjoy the time we spent together.
I think that you would have to agree - seeing these pictures - you just can't put a price on moments like these.
And it is only fitting that as I have finally gone to all this trouble of writing something so nice about them - that I take one final "pot-shot" and publish the picture that I swore I wouldn't..... Heh Heh!
We really did wear them out didn't we?
Well - we've almost come to the end and I have just one final instalment for you which will be a summary of our trip and a few pointers and observations.
If you have got this far - well done you! - just one more to go.
Keep the faith.......!
I have so enjoyed reading your reports, and as we were there the exact same time as you, it also brought back the most wonderful memories of my holiday as well, thank you so much for all the laughter and your photos have been wonderful to see as well. 
